Helmet for accident prevention

ABSTRACT

This invention is intended to provide a helmet for accident prevention comprising in combination a helmet and a plurality of reflectors, said reflectors being attached to outer portions of the helmet, each of said reflectors having a number of reflector elements and adapted to reflect an incident ray of light substantially in the direction of the light source, thereby enabling the user, such as, for example, a driver of motorcycle, to be easily found even in the dark by other person, such as, for example, a driver of car. Thus, with the helmet, accidents, particularly a night traffic accident may be prevented from occurring.

United States Patent [72] inventor Ichiro Oshima Ota-Shi, Japan (c/o Oshima Denki Seisakusho Co. Ltd., No. 42, Fujikura) [21 Appl. No. 850,345 [221 Filed Aug. 13, 1969 [45] Patented May 4, 1971 [32] Priority Mar. 6, 1967 J p [31 l 42/ 18806 Continuation of application Ser. No. 648,393, June 23, 1967, now abandoned.

[54] HELMET FOR ACCIDENT PREVENTION 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 2/3, 2/185, 350/98, 40/129 [51 1 Int. Cl A42b 3/00 [50] Field of Search 2/3, 5, 6, 10, 185 (A), 199, 311; 350/97,98;40/129 (A) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,006,504 7/1935 Johnson 350/98 2,199,996 5/ 1940 I-Iobson et a1 350/ 106 10/ 1 944 Gustin 6/1949 Scott 340/321 5/1955 Anderson.... 350/98 3/1966 Marchello 2/3 FOREIGN PATENTS Primary Examiner-James R. Boler ABSTRACT: This invention is intended to provide a helmet for accident prevention comprising in combination a helmet and a plurality of reflectors, said reflectors being attached to outer portions of the helmet, each of said reflectors having a number of reflector elements and adapted to reflect an incident ray of light substantially in the direction of the light source, thereby enabling the user, such as, for example, a driver of motorcycle, to be easily found even in the dark by other person, such as, for example, a driver of car. Thus, with the helmet, accidents, particularly a night traffic accident may be prevented from occurring.

PATENTEB HAY 4mm 3; 577561 sum 1 0F 2 INVENTOR HHIRO osumn PATENTEDHAY 1ml SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR (NRO OSIHHR protective headgearfandmore particularly to a helmet with reflectors.

In order to escape death-or a fatal .wound caused b y cidents, various kinds of helmets are used, as .ajmeans for protecting the head against impact at the time of accidents, by

those who'drive a motorcycle orthe like, why those,-who are engaged in dangerous work,such as coal miners, stevedores,

etc. i I

There is no doubtthatsuchihelmets can be of help in preventing an injury at the time of accidents. However, it must be noted that conventional helmets function only as a protec tive headgear at-the time when the user meets withan accident, and they are incapable of preventing accidents, such as atraffic accident, from occurring. 1

It is absolutely-necessary that all accidents be prevented in order to completely prevent an injury. The present invention aims to prevent accidents, especially a night traffic accident,

from occurring by providing a newand useful helmet having reflectors, in view of the fact that accidents, particularly a night traflic accident, show an increasing tendency lately.

lt is therefore the principal object of the present invention 7 to provide a helmet with reflectors, capable of protecting those who drive a motorcycle or the like from a night traffic accident, said reflectors being constructed so as to reflect incident rays of light in the direction of the light source.

Another object of the invention is to provide a helmet with reflectors, capable of making the users, who 'work together in the dark, such as in a tunnel, etc., able to find their locations relative to each other and thereby enable them to work in safety.

A further object of the invention .is to provide a belt having a number of reflectors which reflect incident rays of light in the direction from which they have come, said 'belt being adapted to be attached to any desired headgear.

Further objects and additional. advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings in which:

FIG. I is a partly sectioned side view of one embodiment of thepresent-invention, composed of a helmet and a belt with a plurality of reflectors, illustrating the state in which the belt carrying the reflectors is attached to the lower peripheral portion of the helmet;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the belt shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective viewof the belt shown in FIGS. I and 2, illustrating the state in which a reflector is attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is an exploded fragmentary view of the belt shown in FIGS. I to 3, illustrating one form of a reflector and an opening formed in said belt for receiving the reflector;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a combination of another form of reflector and a base member with its rear surface coated with suitable sticking material, said base member being adapted to be attached at its surface on any desired outer portion of a helmet;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another combination of a reflector and its base member, designed to be attached to any desired outer portion of a helmet with a suitable binding agent;

FIG. 7 is a partly broken-away side view of a.helmet to which the combination of the reflectors and the base members, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are attached; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating how an incident ray of light is reflected by elements of a reflector.

In FIGS. 1 to 8 like portions or parts are designated with like numerals.

Referring to FIG. I, there is shown one embodiment of the present invention, comprising a conventional helmet 10, a belt 11 encircling the lower peripheral portion thercof,-and a plurality of reflectorsIZ attached to the belt. The belt I I is made of flexible material, such assynthetic rubber and is provided with a plurality ofopenings 13 which are spacedly formed therein for receiving said reflectors. Each reflector 12 is secured to the belt 11in the manner depicted in FIG. 3.

. The belt 11 is formed on its inner surface with a longitudinal recess 14 which lengthwise extends along the middle area or portion thereof. The openings I3 for receiving the reflectors 12 are formed in said middle area.

On the outer surface of the belt 11 are formed a plurality of longitudinal convex lines 15 for decorative purpose, each of which terminates at the side edges of the openings 13.

The belt 11 may be either a strip of suitable length or a circular strip as shown in FIG. 2. In the latter case, the diameter must be properly predetermined so that the belt may be snugly mounted on the periphery of the helmet. However, the belt 11 may, of course, have a certain tolerance as long as it has flexibility. It is preferable that the belt 11 carrying the reflectors 12 be provided with a U-shaped groove 17 formed by inwardly and upwardly turning the lower edge 16 of the belt 11 so that when the belt is attached to the lower peripheral portion 18 of the helmet 10, the U-shaped groove 17 may fit the edge 19 of the helmet to thereby protect the edge and at the same time to enable the belt to be securely attached to the helmet. In case the belt 11 is made in the form of a strip, it should be securely fastened at its ends with a suitable fastener when attached to the helmet.

Each reflector I2 is formed of a transparent synthetic resin, such as acrylic resin and is provided with a lens portion 20 and relatively thin flangelike portions 21, said lens portion being of convex shape and having its rear surface formed with a number of reflector elements 22, FIG/8, adapted to reflect incident rays of light entering through the lens portion 20 from any light source, such as the car headlight. In the illustrated embodiments, the reflector elements 22 are of the so-called diamond cut type and adapted to reflect the incident rays substantially in the direction from which they have come. As illustrated in FIG. 8, when the incident ray A entering the lens portion 20 of the reflector 12 from the light source, such as, for example, a car headlight 25, strikes a surface of an element 22 at B, it is bounced from the surface and strikes a surface of another element 22 at C, and is then reflected substantially in the direction of the light source 25 and reaches, as a reflected ray D, a man's eye 26, such as the driver of a car in the vicinity of the light source.

To attach a reflector 12 to the belt II, its lens portion 20 is inserted in an opening I3 of the belt from the inside thereof so that flangelike portions 21 come into engagement with said longitudinal recess 14 of the belt to thereby prevent the reflector 12 from coming off.

Illustrated in FIG. 5 is a combination of a circular reflector I2 and its base member 23, said reflector being attached to a circular base member 23 to be mounted on any desired outer portion of the helmet. The reflector 12 has formed on its rear surface a number of reflector elements as in the reflector 12 shown in FIG. 3. The base member 23 carrying the reflector has its rear surface coated with suitable sticking material so that it may be attached to any desired outer portion of a helmet 10' in the manner depicted in FIG. 7. Indicated by numeral 24 is a removable protecting film, such as siliconpaper which is normally attached to the rear surface of the base member 23 where said sticking material is coated, and which is stripped off before the base member is attached to a desired outer portion of the helmet I0.

Illustrated in FIG. 6 is another combination of a base member 23' and a reflector 12". The base member 23' is attached, as shown in FIG. 7, to any desired outer portion of the helmet 10 with suitable binding agent 24'. It is without saying that in these instances, the belt II does not need to be employed for carrying the reflectors I2, 12".

it v 3 wear the 1 6} 1 d, they carrbe readily found by other persons whodri ve car, truck, etc, and a traffic accident may be preventedfromoccurring. Likewise, if those who are en-' gaged in dangerous work, siich asco'al miners,,we ar a miners helmet with such reflectorsin th'e dark, they will be able to easily find their locations relative to each other and mining operation will be carried on in safety.

It should be noted that the belt 11 carrying the reflectors [2 may be attached to other headgear, if desired.

ltwill be understood that the foregoing descriptions and examples are only illustrative ofthe present invention and it is not intendedthat the invention be limited thereto. All substitutions, alterations and modifications of the' present invention which come within'the scope of the following claims or to I which thepresent invention is readily adaptable without departing from the spirit and scope of. this disclosure are considered partof the present invention.

diamond cut to reflect incident light passing through said lens back towards the light source along a path parallel to the path of the incident light, mounting means to affix said reflectors to the exterior surface of said helmet, said mounting rneans'in' eluding a belt .of elastic material, securing means attaching said belt to the lower peripheral edge of said helmet comprising a U-shaped groove formedin thelower edge of said belt, a shaped edge on the lower peripheral portion of said helmet, said U-shaped groove receiving said shaped helmet edge, the flexibility of said belt providing frictional pressure to maintain fixed engagement between said edge and ,said belt groove, and attaching means integral with said belt to locate said reflectors immovably at spaced intervals on said belt.

2. A safety helmet useful for reducing the incidence of accidents due to inadequate lighting by utilizing reflected light for indicating the location of a person wearing the helmet,

comprising a hollow hemispherical plastic helmet, a plurality of rigid transparent'synthetic resin reflectors of a suitable warning color, said reflectors including alens portions of a convex shape and reflective elements integral'with the rear surfaceof said'lens portion, 'said reflective elements being diamond cut to reflect incident light passingthrough said lens back towards the light source along a path parallel to the path of the incident light, mounting means to affix said reflectors to the exterior surface of said helmet,said mounting means including a belt of elastic material, said helmet having a generally circular'edge defining the opening of said helmet,

said belt mountedon said helmet and encircling the outer surface of said helmet adjacent the edge thereof, said belt having a first surface facing outwardly from said helmet and an oppositely disposed second surface facing toward the outer surface of said helmet, said belt having a pair of longitudinally exsurface of said lens portion, said reflective elements being tending edges and one of said edges having a first flange formed therealong extending inwardly from said second surface toward saidhelmet, said first flange having a longitudinally extending U-shaped groove formed therein and the groove engaging the edge of said helmet in closely fitting engagement, a second flange formed along the other edge of said belt and extending inwardly from the second surface into closely fitting engagement with the surface of said helmet, a longitudinally extending recess being formed in the second A surface of said belt and extending laterally between said first and second flanges, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings extending through said belt from the longitudinal recess to said first surface thereof, said reflectors mounted in each of the openings formed through said belt whereby said reflectors are arranged in spaced relationship about said helmet, each of said reflectors having a flange extending about and laterally from the periphery thereof adjacent said reflecting surface, said lens of said reflector extending through the opening in said belt with the convex surface thereof located outwardly'from the first surface of said belt, said lens having an edge configuration between said flange and said convex surface fitting in close engagement with the opening through said belt, and said flange contacting said second surface of said second belt within said longitudinal recess for supporting said reflector between said belt and said helmet.

3. A safety helmet, as in claim 1, wherein said attaching means including a longitudinal recess extending lengthwise along the inner surface of said belt, a plurality of openings in said belt to receive said reflectors, and said. reflectors includ- 

1. A safety helmet useful for reducing the incidence of accidents due to inadequate lighting by utilizing reflected light for indicating the location of a person wearing the helmet, comprising a hollow hemispherical plastic helmet, a plurality of rigid transparent synthetic resin reflectors of a suitable warning color, said reflectors including a lens portions of a convex shape and reflective elements integral with the rear surface of said lens portion, said reflective elements being diamond cut to reflect incident light passing through said lens back towards the light source along a path parallel to the path of the incident light, mounting means to affix said reflectors to the exterior surface of said helmet, said mounting means including a belt of elastic material, securing means attaching said belt to the lower peripheral edge of said helmet comprising a U-shaped groove formed in the lower edge of said belt, a shaped edge on the lower peripheral portion of said helmet, said Ushaped groove receiving said shaped helmet edge, the flexibility of said belt providing frictional pressure to maintain fixed engagement between said edge and said belt groove, and Attaching means integral with said belt to locate said reflectors immovably at spaced intervals on said belt.
 2. A safety helmet useful for reducing the incidence of accidents due to inadequate lighting by utilizing reflected light for indicating the location of a person wearing the helmet, comprising a hollow hemispherical plastic helmet, a plurality of rigid transparent synthetic resin reflectors of a suitable warning color, said reflectors including a lens portions of a convex shape and reflective elements integral with the rear surface of said lens portion, said reflective elements being diamond cut to reflect incident light passing through said lens back towards the light source along a path parallel to the path of the incident light, mounting means to affix said reflectors to the exterior surface of said helmet, said mounting means including a belt of elastic material, said helmet having a generally circular edge defining the opening of said helmet, said belt mounted on said helmet and encircling the outer surface of said helmet adjacent the edge thereof, said belt having a first surface facing outwardly from said helmet and an oppositely disposed second surface facing toward the outer surface of said helmet, said belt having a pair of longitudinally extending edges and one of said edges having a first flange formed therealong extending inwardly from said second surface toward said helmet, said first flange having a longitudinally extending U-shaped groove formed therein and the groove engaging the edge of said helmet in closely fitting engagement, a second flange formed along the other edge of said belt and extending inwardly from the second surface into closely fitting engagement with the surface of said helmet, a longitudinally extending recess being formed in the second surface of said belt and extending laterally between said first and second flanges, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings extending through said belt from the longitudinal recess to said first surface thereof, said reflectors mounted in each of the openings formed through said belt whereby said reflectors are arranged in spaced relationship about said helmet, each of said reflectors having a flange extending about and laterally from the periphery thereof adjacent said reflecting surface, said lens of said reflector extending through the opening in said belt with the convex surface thereof located outwardly from the first surface of said belt, said lens having an edge configuration between said flange and said convex surface fitting in close engagement with the opening through said belt, and said flange contacting said second surface of said second belt within said longitudinal recess for supporting said reflector between said belt and said helmet.
 3. A safety helmet, as in claim 1, wherein said attaching means including a longitudinal recess extending lengthwise along the inner surface of said belt, a plurality of openings in said belt to receive said reflectors, and said reflectors including flanges abutting the belt in the area of said longitudinal recess adjacent said openings. 